Goward rejects 'myth' about maternity leave

Sex discrimination commissioner Pru Goward has rejected as a "myth" the case backed by some federal ministers that paid maternity leave would not help arrest the declining fertility rate.

Ms Goward also said calls by some unions for employers to directly fund a national scheme was a "Third World option" that could discriminate against women, hurt small business and hit narrow profit margins.

She also dismissed suggestions that a maternity leave scheme would be middle-class welfare that discriminated against women not in paid work.

In evidence to a Senate hearing yesterday, Ms Goward gave a strong indication that her final report from an inquiry on the issue, to be released in November, would recommend a minimum 14-week, national, taxpayer-funded maternity leave scheme for women in paid work.

Ms Goward said her comments were not directed at anyone, and she did not name ministers or unions. She said she was responding to "myths that crop up".");document.write("

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Prime Minister John Howard said a maternity leave scheme had merit and was being considered as part of a work and family package cabinet is putting together.

Ms Goward agreed that paid maternity leave by itself would not solve such a complex issue but said it would help families have more children and to have them earlier.

She said families saved and made sacrifices to afford a first child but often could not do it for a second one.

"Families do save to have a baby," she said. "Paid maternity leave may help women bring forward the timing of their first child, which will increase the likelihood of a second child.

"Paid maternity leave makes it easier for families to decide to have a child, and provides social recognition of this decision."

Ms Goward said the existing ad hoc system of voluntary employer-funded paid maternity leave favoured highly educated and skilled women, and a taxpayer-funded scheme would be of most benefit to low-paid workers, not the middle class.